RSG Awards N21bn Trans-Kalabari Road Project

Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike Amaechi has assured the people of Kalabari that the Trans-Kalabari road would be completed before his exit from office in 2015.

He gave the assurance while speaking at a town hall meeting yesterday in Buguma, headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, stressing that despite carrying out other monumental projects in the area, the road remains top priority.

In his words, “the Trans-Kalabari road is coming and we have awarded the contract to Lubriks for the sum of N21billion. We have agreed to take it to Buguma so by January we will mobilise the contractor to site”.

Amaechi therefore warned all land speculators to steer clear, as any encroachment on the road would be demolished immediately. Other projects promised by the Governor in the area include the Buguma sandfilling project, Tema Bridge, primary schools and health centres at Okpo, Ido, Abalama and Alelema.

The Governor further directed the Commissioner for Agriculture to ensure that indigenes from the three Kalabari areas of Degema, Asari-Toru and Akuku-Toru were engaged to work at junior cadre in the multi-million fish farm in Buguma, but said other management position be advertised.

Amaechi was full of praises for the people of the area for the peace and decline in militancy activities just few years after his visit, “let me congratulate the Kalabari people that you have changed completely; now you can have a beach party means that things are changing and it means that your micro-economy will begin to improve again”, he remarked.

Earlier, Secretary to the State Government, Mr. George Feyii stated that the purpose of the town hall meeting was for face to face interaction between government and the citizenry.

Mr. Feyii described the forum as a key process in democracy since it provides the platform for the government to feel the pulse of the people , and therefore enjoined the citizenry to fully participate.

In his address, Chairman of the Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Hon. Ojukaye Flagg- Amachree while thanking the Governor for organising the forum said it touched the lives of the common people.

He lauded Amaechi for the huge projects sited in the area, noting that the 1.5billion fish farm would spark fresh economic activities and development in the area.

hile calling for more reclamation of land in the area, he stated that the council so far had linked communities to the national grid, and built an Ultra modern market among other projects.

Former Pro Chancellor of the State University of Science and Technology, Chief Ombo Isokariari while thanking Governor Amaechi for the forum urged the state government to address the Buguma drainage, link road and shore protection.

Some indigenes from Asari-Toru Local Government Area have called for parity in the sharing of political office positions in the area.

The indigenes barred their mind at the Town Hall Meeting with Governor Amaechi at Buguma yesterday.

Speaking during the question and answer session at the forum, Mr Daric Davies said the area consists of 13 wards and that only Buguma takes the lion share in appointments leaving only one to the satelite communities.

Another indigene, Mrs Ibidanga Briggs decried why parents were still being asked to pay WAEC and NECO fees despite government’s free education policy in the state.

Mrs. Briggs pleaded with the state government to assist parents offset examination fees as that would reduce their financial burden.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree has explained why Buguma took majority of the political positions in the area.

Responding to questions posed by some stakeholders over the lopsided appointments in the area, Rt. Hon Amachree said currently Buguma has 10 wards, while the remaining communities have three hence most appointments go to them.

But the Governor promised that he would address the matter and ensure equity and fairness in next appointments.

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (right), presenting the Rivers State 2013 Budget proposal to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, at the Assembly chambers, in Port Harcourt, on Monday.